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Lot Essay
Stylistically this folio is similar to several Mamluk Qur’ans copied in the 1330s. Two Qur’ans in the National Library in Cairo, one dated AH 731/1331 AD and the other AH 734/1334 AD bear close resemblance to ours (nos.184 and 81 respectively; both published in James, 1982, cats.15 and 17). Both, like ours, are copied in a neat muhaqqaq and have sura headings written in kufic within elegantly illuminated panels. Both have rich gold and polychrome opening and closing carpet pages based on geometric shapes and give an idea of how lavish our Qur’an would once have been (one illustrated in colour in Washington D.C., 1981, pp.34-35, no.3).
A folio from the same Qur’an as ours is in the Aga Khan Collection, exhibited in the Spirit and Life exhibition (London, 2007, p.37, no.8). Another is in the Cincinnati Art Museum (acc. 1977.44a-b). Other folios have sold through the saleroom - most recently at Sotheby’s, London, 9 April 2014, lot 21 and in these Rooms, 25 October 2018, lot 6. A pencil note on the Christie’s folio written by a previous owner states that the Qur’an of which it was originally a part was copied in AH 728/1327-28 AD. Although one cannot rely solely on this note for dating as the whereabouts of the colophon of the Qur’an is unknown, it supports the proposed dating.
A folio from the same Qur’an as ours is in the Aga Khan Collection, exhibited in the Spirit and Life exhibition (London, 2007, p.37, no.8). Another is in the Cincinnati Art Museum (acc. 1977.44a-b). Other folios have sold through the saleroom - most recently at Sotheby’s, London, 9 April 2014, lot 21 and in these Rooms, 25 October 2018, lot 6. A pencil note on the Christie’s folio written by a previous owner states that the Qur’an of which it was originally a part was copied in AH 728/1327-28 AD. Although one cannot rely solely on this note for dating as the whereabouts of the colophon of the Qur’an is unknown, it supports the proposed dating.